This time the kiss was wilder and fiercer than the last one yet there was an unmistakable sensual note that took her breath away. His hand groped her rounded hip, drawing her into him till there was no space left in between. A moan escaped Cara as this was exactly what she wanted. The intensity of the kiss rendered her powerless and she wrapped her arms around his neck eliciting a contented moan from his lips. Marcus’s mouth played with her lower lip, biting and parting it expertly till she opened her mouth and surrendered to his needs. His tongue delved deeper and deeper and he devoured every recess inside her mouth like there was no tomorrow. The hungry, animal-like, and sensual kiss evoked a blind need deep within her which in turn started the familiar throbbing in her sensitive core. With her hands in his hair, tugging and pulling, she matched his passion with hers and kissed him back, surprising him and making him drown in her sweetness.
Marcus couldn’t get enough of her and drank her sweet nectar hungrily as if she were his dessert of the day. He knew at that point that he was fu*ked up for life. He needed her more than anything else in the whole world. He could give up his painting, he could give up his life but he couldn’t give her up. “I’m so f*cked up, Cara. I know I’m not good enough for you but I’m powerless to resist you,” he whispered, finally breaking the heated kiss to catch his breath.
Cara gazed back at him, her fingers still caressing his hair as she tried to calm her rapidly beating heart while trying to comprehend what he was trying to say. “Isn’t it the other way around, Marcus?” she rolled her eyes at him with disbelief but her heart did a somersault with happiness considering the power she wielded over him. So he wasn’t immune to her at all! But the question that disturbed her was that he was a billionaire, a celebrity with looks to melt even a stone! How could he consider himself not good enough for her?
“I’m bad news for you, Cara. I don’t want to corrupt your innocence,” he murmured, his eyes staring back at her dejectedly.
“I’m old enough to decide that, Marcus.” Her unflinching stare and her confidence stirred up hope in his heart.
“But I’m too old for you, Cara. Eight years is a lot. I’m broken and can’t offer you anything except my body and my obsession for you.” Cara nodded as she knew that already. She didn’t need anything from him apart from his heart but strangely not once did he mention that he would love her all his life. She didn’t need his money, position, or fame. All she needed was his body, mind, heart, and soul. While he willingly offered her his body, she realized that she would never have his mind, heart, and soul.
“I’ve never asked anything from you, Marcus. Eight years is nothing when my heart feels connected to yours.” Marcus gazed back at her with hooded eyes as if contemplating upon what she had just said.
“I don’t have a heart. I can only offer you a no-strings-attached physical intimacy that will blow your mind away. There won’t be any looking back after this Cara. I’m a very passionate man and if you live here with me for a year, I can’t be happy with a few kisses from you. I want more. Are you ready for this roller-coaster life? If not, I suggest that you just walk out of the door without a backward look. I’ll understand and leave you alone forever.”
Cara’s eyes widened as she realized what exactly he was asking for. She had never imagined that she would be in such a situation where she would have to choose between her principles, her dreams, and her only true love! Her principles didn’t want her to have a physical relationship with a man with whom she had no future together but what about her dreams and her love for him? Could she walk out and never look back? Could she never think about what she shared with Marcus? Could she forget her love for him?
“How can I leave you, Marcus? I love you!” The words escaped her before she could check herself leaving Marcus stunned. His head reeled from her sweet and pure confession, choking his throat with emotions. After the selfish request he made, no woman in her right senses would stay with him. They all wanted more from him, more than he could offer them. All except Cara! She didn’t want anything in return and instead of running for the hills, she stood with wide eyes confessing her love for him. Tears pricked at his eyes while his cold heart wanted to believe in love like he used to before. He pulled her into his arms and held her against his chest like some long-lost treasure.
“What will I do with you, Cara?” he whispered into her hair. Marcus picked her up in his arms and strode towards his bedroom without a word. Cara clung to him, wrapping her arms around his neck as a warm flush spread all over her body. At that moment, she wanted to evaporate or hide somewhere out of embarrassment. With her face hidden in his neck, she was extremely aware of their situation now. Would he now start what he had asked for? Were they now into the type of physical intimacy he wanted from her? A tremor ran down her body at the thought. She had no idea what to do, having never experienced or seen anything like it before.
The sound of thunder rumbled outside as if nature too decided to compete with the emotional and se*ual tension crackling dangerously between them. Marcus laid her down gently on his bed and sat down beside her, gazing down at her with eyes as dark as the storm clouds outside. There was electricity in the air which had nothing to do with the storm. It was as if they were drawn together like magnets. Cara trembled and her head spun with confusion. This was uncharted territory and she was afraid that she wouldn’t be able to please Marcus because of her lack of experience.
“Are you afraid of the storm?” he asked her tenderly, stroking her soft cheeks with the back of his hand. It was the most tender touch and at that point, Cara could have sworn that she felt his love for her despite him declining it. She shook her head, her breath hitched as his eyes promised more.
“I don’t think I can please you, Marcus. I’ve never done anything like this before. You’ll be disappointed in me.” Marcus lay down next to her and pulled her over his body, his arms going around her as she lay on his chest, listening to his crazy heartbeat.
“We’ll take it slow, Mia Cara. Don’t worry, I’ll teach you everything.” Cara gazed into his eyes and for a moment she didn’t understand why he would want her when he could have the most experienced woman on earth. Women he wouldn’t need to teach.
“Why me?” she whispered. Another giant boom of thunder rolled overhead, drowning his answer in its wake. It was accompanied by a flash of lightning and Cara tried to strain her ears to listen to his reason. Finally, all was quiet outside as raindrops started beating against the window panes. She gazed up at him but it seemed as if he wasn’t interested in repeating himself. A gust of wind howled throughout the house accompanying the rain. The sound of glass shattering echoed around making Marcus wear obscenities at being disturbed. Marcus released her and she climbed down with anxious eyes.
“I’ll check,” offered Cara, but Marcus held up his hand to stop her.
“It won’t take me long. Just lie down and rest your back.” He rushed out of the room while Cara stared at the ceiling wondering what he had called her a few minutes ago. She couldn’t stop her heart from soaring with ecstasy seeing the caring side to Marcus. He might not explicitly tell her that he loved her but was her imagination playing tricks with her mind or did she really feel his love for her? She could hear Marcus closing some windows and cleaning broken shards of glass somewhere but she didn’t budge from the bed. He had asked her not to! It was better not to upset him. She wondered what he had gone through to make him lose his trust in women forever. Why was it that he was against love and relationships? There were so many questions flitting across her mind but although she loved him, she realized that she didn’t know him well. Maybe she would try to get to know him better. After all, she just had one year with her to fulfill her dreams of a lifetime! Maybe it was too little time when you want nothing but forever with the person you love but anything was better than nothing.
He came back to the bed after a few minutes and lay down next to her. Propping himself up on his elbow, he hovered over her, staring straight into her eyes. “Will you kiss me, Mia Cara?”